History Creator / IanMcShane

His many roles on screen have been predominantly villainous, including Judas Iscariot in ''Series/JesusOfNazareth'', Blackbeard in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'', Tai Lung in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', and bisexual {{Gayngster}} Teddy Bass in ''Film/SexyBeast''. However, he also plays good guys, such as Mr. Bobinsky in ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'' and King Brahmwell in ''Film/JackTheGiantSlayer''. Incidentally, he was at drama school with Creator/JohnHurt and they shared an apartment, leading to a lifelong friendship.

* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' (2008) as Tai Lung (voice)

* ClassicallyTrainedExtra: This is averted with his roles in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'', ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory'', and ''Film/JackTheGiantSlayer'', which he, apparently, enjoyed immensely. He seems to enjoy the weirder, blockbuster-y roles just as much as classical theater. Though he does have fun with it and doesn't take it too seriously, famously referirng to ''Series/GameOfThrones'' with:[[MemeticMutation "Get a fucking life! It's just tits and dragons!"]]

* ''Franchise/JohnWick'' as Winston

Oh, and that picture of him up there? [[OlderThanTheyLook He's 80]], by the way.

* ''[[Series/OnePiece2023 One Piece]] (2023) as Narrator

* BadassBaritone: His mellifluous, purring voice is very distinctive.

* ''[[Recap/BabylonFiveFilm03TheRiverOfSouls Babylon 5: The River of Souls]]'' (1998) as Robert Bryson

!Tropes related to his works:
* AffablyEvil: His characters are usually pretty untrustworthy but that doesn't stop them from being charming, even if [[FauxAffablyEvil it's insincere]] due to his incredible charisma and dry wit.
* BadassBaritone: His mellifluous, purring voice is very distinctive.
* ClassicallyTrainedExtra: This is averted with his roles in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'', ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory'', and ''Film/JackTheGiantSlayer'', which he, apparently, enjoyed immensely. He seems to enjoy the weirder, blockbuster-y roles just as much as classical theater. Though he does have fun with it and doesn't take it too seriously, famously referirng to ''Series/GameOfThrones'' with:[[MemeticMutation "Get a fucking life! It's just tits and dragons!"]]
* CoolOldGuy: Some of his later roles have him as this, most notably [[Film/JohnWick Winston]] and [[Series/GameOfThrones Septon Ray]].
* DeadpanSnarker: His characters tend to get the best lines.
* EvilBrit: Frequently.
* EvilOldFolks: Can still play menacing villains well into his seventies.
* EvilSoundsDeep: He has a very deep voice and he plays villains a lot.
* OlderThanTheyLook: He's aged very well. He's almost 80 but looks to be in his early sixties at the most and was sixty when he started ''Series/{{Deadwood}}'' but looked to be in his mid-forties/early fifties at the most.
* OopNorth: He is from Manchester and has a notable accent.
* PlayingAgainstType:
** In ''Series/GameOfThrones'', where he plays one of the [[NiceGuy few unashamedly and unambiguous good characters]] in the series.
** Even moreso in ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'', where he's a downright goofy Russian entertainer.

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* ''WesternAnimation/ShrekTheThird'' (2007) as Captain Hook

* ''Film/TheGoldenCompass'' (2007) as Ragnar Sturlusson
* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' (2008) as Tai Lung

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'' (2009) as Mr. Bobinsky

* 1967 ''Literature/WutheringHeights'' as Heathcliff
* 1969 ''Film/BattleOfBritain'' as Andy
* 1973 ''Film/TheLastOfSheila'' as Anthony
* 2000 ''Film/SexyBeast'' as Teddy Bass
* 2003 ''Film/AgentCodyBanks'' as Dr. Brinkman
* 2006 ''Film/{{Scoop}}'' as Joe Strombel
* 2006 ''Film/WeAreMarshall'' as Paul Griffen
* 2007 ''WesternAnimation/ShrekTheThird'' as Captain Hook
* 2007 ''Film/HotRod'' as Frank Powell
* 2007 ''Film/TheSeeker'' as Merriman Lyon
* 2007 ''Film/TheGoldenCompass'' as Ragnar Sturlusson
* 2008 ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' as Tai Lung
* 2008 ''Film/DeathRace'' as Coach
* 2009 ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'' as Mr. Bobinsky
* 2011 ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'' as Blackbeard
* 2012 ''Film/SnowWhiteAndTheHuntsman'' as Beith
* 2013 ''Film/JackTheGiantSlayer'' as King Brahmwell
* 2014 ''Film/CubanFury'' as Ron Parfitt
* 2014 ''Film/{{Hercules 2014}}'' as Amphiaraus

* 2019 ''Film/{{Hellboy|2019}}'' as Professor Trevor "Broom" Bruttenholm

* 1977 ''Series/JesusOfNazareth'' as Judas Iscariot
* 1986–1994 ''Series/{{Lovejoy}}'' as Lovejoy
* 1989 ''Series/{{Dallas}}'' as Don Lockwood
* 1989 ''Series/MiamiVice'' as General Manuel Borbon
* 1990 ''Series/{{Columbo}}'' as Leland (episode "[[Recap/ColumboS09E04 Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo]]")
* 2004–2006 ''Series/{{Deadwood}}'' as Al Swearengen
* 2009 ''Series/{{Kings}}'' as King Silas Benjamin
* 2010 ''Series/ThePillarsOfTheEarth'' as Waleran Bigod
* 2012 ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryAsylum'' as Leigh Emerson
* 2015 ''Series/RayDonovan'' as Andrew Finney
* 2016 ''Series/GameOfThrones'' as Septon Ray
* 2017 ''Series/AmericanGods2017'' as Mr. Wednesday[=/=][[spoiler:Odin]].

Oh, and that picture of him up there? [[OlderThanTheyLook He's 79]], by the way.

* OlderThanTheyLook: He's aged very well. He's almost 80 but looks to be in his early sixties at the most and was sixty when he started ''Series/Deadwood'' but looked to be in his mid-forties/early fifties at the most.

* OlderThanTheyLook: He's aged very well. He's almost 80 but looks to be in his early sixties at the most. It helps that he still has a full head of hair

** In ''Series/GameOfThrones'', where he plays one of the few unashamedly and unambiguous good characters in the series.

* ClassicallyTrainedExtra: This is averted with his roles in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'', ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory'', and ''Film/JackTheGiantSlayer'', which he, apparently, enjoyed immensely. He seems to enjoy the weirder, blockbuster-y roles just as much as classical theater. Though he does have fun with it and doesn't take it too seriously, famously referirng to Series/GameOfThrones with:[[MemeticMutation "Get a fucking life! It's just tits and dragons!"]]

* OlderThanTheyLook: He has aged very well. He is in his late seventies, but looks to be in his early sixties at the most. It helps that he still has a full head of hair.

Oh, and that picture of him up there? [[OlderThanTheyLook He's 78]], by the way.

* BadassBeard: He has some of the best facial hair in the business.

** Even moreso in ''WesternAnimation/Coraline'', where he's a downright goofy Russian entertainer.

* PlayingAgainstType: In ''Series/GameOfThrones'', where he plays one of the few unashamedly and unambiguous good characters in the series.

* OlderThanTheyLook: He has aged very well. He is in his late seventies, but looks to be in his early sixties at the most.

* ClassicallyTrainedExtra: This is averted with his roles in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'', ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory'', and ''Film/JackTheGiantSlayer'', which he, apparently, enjoyed immensely. He seems to enjoy the weirder, blockbuster-y roles just as much as classical theater. Though he does have fun with it, like in Series/GameOfThrones:[[MemeticMutation memetic phrase "Get a fucking life! It's just tits and dragons!"]]

* ClassicallyTrainedExtra: This is averted with his roles in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'', ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory'', and ''Film/JackTheGiantSlayer'', which he, apparently, enjoyed immensely. He seems to enjoy the weirder, blockbuster-y roles just as much as classical theater.
** He has, however, made his disdain for everything involving ''Series/GameOfThrones'' and its fanbase (except his long-time friends Stephen Dillane and Charles Dance) abundantly clear in everything he has done relating to that. This contempt led to the [[MemeticMutation memetic phrase "Get a fucking life! It's just tits and dragons!"]]

His many roles on screen have been predominantly villainous, including Judas Iscariot in ''Series/JesusOfNazareth'', Blackbeard in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'', Tai Lung in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', and bisexual {{Gayngster}} Teddy Bass in ''Film/SexyBeast''. However, he also plays good guys, such as Mr. Bobinsky in ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'' and King Brahmwell in ''Film/JackTheGiantSlayer''. Incidentally, he was at drama school with Creator/JohnHurt, and they shared an apartment, leading to a lifelong friendship.

Ian David [=McShane=] (born 29 September 1942) is a versatile English actor with a distinctive, purring voice. He first solidified his reputation in the British series ''Series/{{Lovejoy}}'', but his career experienced in renaissance with his fierce performance as the terrifying yet complex saloon owner Al Swearengen in ''Series/{{Deadwood}}'', which led to a prolific later career in a wide range of high-profile film and television productions.

* PlayingAgainstType: In ''Series/GameOfThrones'' where he plays one of the few unashamedly and unambiguous good characters in the series.

* OlderThanTheyLook: He's aged very well. He's in his late seventies but looks to be in his early sixties at the most.
* OopNorth: He's from Manchester and has a notable accent.

* ClassicallyTrainedExtra: This is averted with his roles in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'', ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory'' and ''Film/JackTheGiantSlayer'', which he, apparently, enjoyed immensely. He seems to enjoy the weirder, blockbuster-y roles just as much as classical theater.